The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-02-05

, How IL II Done and the Worl
Required before Shipment.
The greatest ore market in the
world to-day is Denver, Colorado.
To it is shipped ores from thou
sands of mines scattered through
at least ten states and territories,
and but very recently a lot was re-
ceived from far distant Chill. A
large amount of the ore comes from
the Pacific northwest, and the
mines of Wood River contribute a
large share of the thousands oftons
which are there handled daily.
Salt Lake and Pueblo receives
some of the idaho lead-silver ore.
and Omaha the remainder of that
shipped. The average distance to
which the ores Of the northwest are
shipped is stated by Professor Her
bert Lang in the mining depart
ment of the Oregonian at not less
than 500 miles, and the average
cost of transportation per ton about
sixteen dollars. The average cost
of treatment on the ores shipped is
twenty dollars. The average ex-
pense of transportation and treat
Inent has been, taking all classes
Of mines and ores. fully three
eighths of the total value. and in
many cases much more. leaning
has been, and still is, very expen-
sive in some localities. The sale
Of ore in this way makes the sam
ping works a necessity where all
consignments are held for sale or
disposed Of under contract. The
sampler occupies the same posi-
ton as a commission merchant
who deals in ores of gold, silver,
lead and copper as others deal in
wool, wheat and other products.
A great majority of miners favor
sampling works because they afford
favorable means of selling their
ores. The sample taken is assayed
by some public assayer, and the
certificate returned to the sampling
works for comparison, when, if the
ere is not already contracted for,
it is sold to the highest bidder. The
sampling of ore involves consider
able work, and is done as follows
The ore is first removed to the
platform and weighed. 1t is then
thrown into heap with care to
produce an intimate comminglinl
of the various parcels or quantities
which is generally accomplished by
emptying each sack or shovelful
successfully upon certain portion
of the floor so as to preserve a con-
zeal form to the constantly growing
heap. A carload, for example, be-
ing thus piled up the heap is SHOW
eled away by a workman who
places nine shovelfuls in a barrow
or car and throws the tenth into a
pile. This is repeated un-
til the original lot is thus separated
into two parts. The larger lot
goes to an ore bin, and the sample,
the one-tenth, is, if it is coarse ore,
passed through jaw crusher, which
reduces it to pieces not larger than
a walnut. 1t is then spread out
upon the floor in layer perhaps
six inches deep, and is divided in
to quarters by means Of a shovel.
Two opposite quarters are removed |
and placed in the bin, while the
sampler, now containing one-twen-
tieth of the original amount, is all |
passed through sampling rolls, re-
ducing the largest particles to the
size of a bean. 1t is again divided
as before and again mixed. When
again reduced to a manageable
weight, about sixty pounds or so,
it is mixed OH canvas or cut down !
over split shovel sampler, and an
average sample Of ten or fifteen
pounds weight secured. This is
ground in the sampler grinder to
a fineness equal to fine sand and
the sample again spread out, d.
vided into squares, a portion taken
from each; three eight ounce bot
ties are filed, stoppered and sealed
and the sampling is complete and
ready for the assayer. This is the
general mode of sampling, but of
course there are variations in the
method. Machinery has been de-
vised to do the work of taking out
the tenth, and automatic samplers
are now constructed which reduces
the actual cost of handling the ore
to very insignificant amount. The
usual price of sampling ores ranges
from Is cents to five dollars q ton.